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William Billings (c. 1629–1713)

Mary Unknown (d. 1718)

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The migrant ancestor William Billings was born about 1629, based on the age on his gravestone. He died in 1713, before 29 April, when his will was proved. He married Mary Unknown on 12 January 1657/8 in Dorchester. She may be the widow Billings who was buried on 27 February 1717/8. William and Mary are buried in the North Stonington cemetery and William’s gravestone says, “1713 Here lies the body of William Billing who died in the 85th year of his age.” [1][2]

On 27 February 1717/8 Manasseh Minor wrote in his diary, "widow biling buried." [3, 40]

An estate called Deanes was inherited by William, who sold it to his brother Ebenezer. In his will of 23 January 1649, Ebenezer wrote: [2]

Whereas my brother William Billing by virtue of an obligation unto me made before his departure for New England whereby he relinquished … for certain considerations … the house and land called Deanes … formerly belonging to our late father William Billing deceased I do give … Deanes to my nephew and godson Ebenzezer Billing, son of my late brother Joseph, deceased.

William came to New England between 1649 and 1658, when he was in Dorchester, Massachusetts. He moved to Stonington by 1667 and acquired a large estate. [2] He was a soldier in King Philip’s War in 1675. [2] He was admitted to the first church in Stonington on 29 April 167. [4, 189, 194]

William made his will on 3 October 1712; it was proved on 14 April 1713. He mentioned his wife Mary, his sons William and Ebenezer, his daughters Margaret, Mary, Lydia, Mercy, Dorothy and Patience, his daughter Abigail’s daughters, his grandchildren Beriah Grant and Mary Keeays (the name is uncertain). [BFC] Mary made her nuncupative will in 1713 and it was recorded on 8 July 1718. She mentioned her daughters Margaret, Mary, Lydia, Mercy, Dorothy and Patience and her granddaughters Mary Ceay (again uncertain) and Elizabeth and Mary Randall. [2]

Children of William and Mary Billings: All births and baptisms in [2]

i. Margaret Billings was probably born about 1659. [2] She married Edmund Fanning [2] the son of Edmund Fanning (#94).

iii. Ensign Ebenezer Billings was born about 1661. He died on 16 September 1727. He married Anne Comstock.

iv. Joseph Billings was baptized on 1 September 1672 in New London. [2] He probably died before 1712, when he was not mentioned in his father’s will.

Joseph owned the covenant at the first church in Stonington on 18 April 1689. [4]

v. Mary Billings was baptized on 1 September 1672 in New London. She is “presumably” the Mary whom married John Whiting on 24 December 1688. John, the son of Nathaniel Whiting, was born on 19 July 1665. He was of Wrentham, Massachusetts. [2]

vi. Lydia Billings was baptized on 1 September 1672 in New London. She died in August 1747. She married first William Bromley. William, the son of Luke Bromley, was born about 1668. He died about 1700. Lydia married second Samuel Coyle of Boston before 23 July 1704. [2]

Lydia owned on covenant in the first church in Stonington on 18 April 1689. [4]

vii. Mercy Billings was born on 27 October 1674 in Stonington. She was baptized on 14 March 1675/6. [7] Beriah, the illegitimate son of Marcy Billings was baptized on 24 July 1698 in Stonington. [4, 195]

viii. Abigail Billings was baptized on 1 July 1677 in Stonington. She was buried on 6 December 1705. She married John Randall in 1695 in Stonington. [2] John, the son of John Randall, was born in 1666. [2] John probably married second Mary Baldwin. [4, 195]

On 6 December 1705 Manasseh Minor wrote in his diary, "John Randle wife buried." [3, 81] On 10 November 1706 he wrote, "“John Randall & mary Baldwin published.” [3, 96].

ix. Dorothy Billings was baptized on 1 July 1677 in Stonington. [4, 195] She married Daniel Mackey. [2]

x. Elizabeth Billings was baptized on 28 September 1679 in Stonington. [4, 195]

Elizabeth was admitted the first church in Stonington on 10 November 1700 and she was dismissed to the church in Wrentham on 6 April 1701. [10] Presumably, she went to live with her sister Mary.

On 6 April 1701 Manasseh Minor wrote in his diary, "Elizabeth bilins dismised unto the church o rantum." [3, 45]

xi. Patience Billings was baptized on 9 April 1682 in Stonington.

Endnotes

1. Rachelle Child and Helen Schatvet Ullman, "English Origin of Roger, Ann, and William Billings of Dorchester, Massachusetts," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 171 (2017): 129–132.

2. Spencer-Mounsey, Creighton, “The Billings Family of Connecticut,” New England Historical and Genealogical Register 81 (1927), 156–78.

3. The Diary of Manasseh Minor: Stonington, Conn., 1696–1720 (n.p: published by Frank Denison Miner with the assistance of Hannah Miner, 1988).

4. Richard A Wheeler, History of the First Congregational Church, Stonington, Conn., 1674–1874 (Norwich, T.H. Davis and Co., 1875).

5. "Connecticut: Vital Records (The Barbour Collection), 1630–1870," database with images, AmericanAncestors.org, > Stonington, 19–22. Mary, d. William, b. Oct. 27, 1674. This is probably a mistake because Mary had already been baptized and a second Mary born in 1674 would have been young to have married in 1688.

Revised July 4, 2023

© 2019 A. Buiter